Editing Traffic (section)

==== Intersections ====
{{main|Intersection (road)}}
[[File:Intersection 4way overview.jpg|thumb|left|This intersection in [[San Jose, California]] has crosswalks, left-turn lanes, and [[traffic light]]s.]]

In most of [[Continental Europe]], the default rule is to give [[priority to the right]], but this may be overridden by signs or road markings. There, priority was initially given according to the social rank of each traveler, but early in the life of the automobile this rule was deemed impractical and replaced with the ''priorité à droite'' (priority to the right) rule, which still applies. At a [[traffic circle]] where ''priorité à droite'' is not overridden, traffic on what would otherwise be a [[roundabout]] gives way to traffic entering the circle. Most French roundabouts now have give-way signs for traffic entering the circle, but there remain some notable exceptions that operate on the old rule, such as the [[Place de l'Étoile]] around the [[Arc de Triomphe]]. Priority to the right where used in continental Europe may be overridden by an ascending hierarchy of markings, signs, signals, and authorized persons.
[[File:NonUK Roundabout 8 Cars.gif|thumb|[[Roundabout]] in a country where traffic drives on the right.  Traffic streams circularly around a central island after first yielding to circulating traffic.  Unlike with traffic circles, vehicles on a roundabout have priority over the entering vehicle, [[parking]] is not allowed and pedestrians are usually prohibited from the central island.]]
[[File:Street Intersection diagram.PNG|thumb|[[Intersection (road)|intersection]] of two-way streets as seen from above (traffic flows on the right side of the road).  The east–west street has left turn lanes from both directions, but the north–south street does not have left turn lanes at this intersection.  The east–west street traffic lights also have green left turn arrows to show when unhindered left turns can be made.  Some possible markings for crosswalks are shown.]]

In the United Kingdom, priority is generally indicated by signs or markings, so that almost all junctions between public roads (except those governed by traffic signals) have a concept of a major road and minor road. The default give-way-to-the-right rule used in Continental Europe causes problems for many British and Irish drivers who are accustomed to having right of way by default unless otherwise indicated. A very small proportion of low-traffic junctions are unmarked – typically on [[housing estate]]s or in rural areas. Here the rule is to "proceed with great care"<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/using-the-road-159-to-203/road-junctions-170-to-183 |title=The Highway Code – Rule 176 |access-date=7 November 2012}}</ref> i.e. slow the vehicle and check for traffic on the intersecting road.

Other countries use various methods similar to the above examples to establish the right of way at intersections.  For example, in most of the United States, the default priority is to yield to traffic from the right, but this is usually overridden by traffic control devices or other rules, like the [[boulevard rule]]. This rule holds that traffic entering a major road from a smaller road or alley must yield to the traffic of the busier road, but signs are often still posted. The boulevard rule can be compared with the above concept of a major and minor road, or the priority roads that may be found in countries that are parties to the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals.

;Perpendicular intersections
Also known as a "four-way" intersection, this intersection is the most common configuration for roads that cross each other, and the most basic type.

If [[traffic signal]]s do not control a four-way intersection, signs or other features are typically used to control movements and make clear priorities.  The most common arrangement is to indicate that one road has priority over the other, but there are complex cases where all traffic approaching an intersection must yield and may be required to stop.

In the United States, South Africa, and Canada, there are four-way intersections with a [[stop sign]] at every entrance, called four-way stops.  A failed signal or a flashing red light is equivalent to a four-way stop, or an [[all-way stop]]. Special rules for four-way stops may include:

# In the countries that use four-way stops, pedestrians always have priority at crosswalks – even at unmarked ones, which exist as the logical continuations of the sidewalks at every intersection with approximately right angles – unless signed or painted otherwise.
# Whichever vehicle first stops at the stop line – or before the crosswalk, if there is no stop line – has priority.
# If two vehicles stop at the same time, priority is given to the vehicle on the right.
# If several vehicles arrive at the same time, a right-of-way conflict may arise wherein no driver has the legal right-of-way. This may result in drivers informally signaling to other drivers to indicate their intent to yield, for example by waving or flashing headlights.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2012/09/traffic_talk_breaking_down_fou.html|title=Traffic Talk: Breaking down four-way stop sign scenarios, laws and common-sense courtesies|last=Oosting|first=Jonathan|date=3 September 2012|website=mlive|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170917150430/http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2012/09/traffic_talk_breaking_down_fou.html|archive-date=17 September 2017}}</ref>

In Europe and other places, there are similar intersections. These may be marked by special signs (according to the [[Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals]]), a danger sign with a black X representing a crossroads. This sign informs drivers that the intersection is uncontrolled and that default rules apply. In Europe and in many areas of North America the default rules that apply at uncontrolled four-way intersections are almost identical:

# Rules for pedestrians differ by country, in the United States and Canada pedestrians generally have priority at such an intersection.
# All vehicles must give priority to any traffic approaching from their right,
# Then, if the vehicle is turning right or continuing on the same road it may proceed.
# Vehicles turning left must also give priority to traffic approaching from the opposite direction, unless that traffic is also turning left.
# If the intersection is congested, vehicles must alternate directions and/or circulate priority to the right one vehicle at a time. {{Citation needed|date=December 2013}}